Keeping a Watch on Hurricane Florence

As you are no doubt aware, several of our communities in North Carolina and South Carolina are in the crosshairs of a potentially devastating storm. Though Hurricane Florence has yet to make landfall, the North Carolina coast is already experiencing overwhelming flooding caused by the storm surge.

Over the past few days, the Orthodox Jewish community of Myrtle Beach has been evacuated, leaving behind their homes and shul. In Charleston, community members are boarding up their homes in anticipation of the storm and the anticipated flooding.

Since the time the National Hurricane Center began tracking Hurricane Florence, the Orthodox Union has been in continuous communication with our network of North Carolina and South Carolina synagogues and local community leadership. Via the OU’s Southeast office, we continue to communicate with those on the ground and local authorities to assess the developing situation. We will alert you should, God forbid, critical assistance be required.

At this time, what can you do to help?

We urge everyone to include tefilos in their prayers for the people in harm’s way. In particular, we urge all those lighting Shabbos candles before the advent of this Shabbos Shuva to include chapter 130 of Tehillim in their candle lighting recitation. The words of the Psalm are below.

We hope and pray that it proves to be unnecessary, but if God forbid financial assistance is needed to address storm damage, we will reach out to you to participate. Similarly, in consultation with the respective local communities, the Orthodox Union will coordinate any other relief effort that, Heaven forbid, becomes necessary.

Please follow our social media channels or visit OU.org where we will provide updated information as the storm and recovery unfold.

The leadership of the Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union express our heartfelt concern and prayers for those in the path of Hurricane Florence. It is our sincere hope and prayer that the damage and grief caused by the hurricane will be limited.

Thank you for joining us in these efforts.

With Gratitude,

Moishe Bane, President
Orthodox Union

Rabbi Elazar Muskin, President
Rabbinical Council of America

Allen Fagin, Executive Vice President
Orthodox Union

Rabbi Mark Dratch, Executive VP
Rabbinical Council of America

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